Carcass dipping apparatus



Aug. 2S, 1945. A. G. ACKE'RMANN 2,383,835

cARcAss DIPHNG APPARATUS Filed Nov. e, 1942 l 5 sheets-sheet 1 v5 Sheets-Sheet l A. G. ACKERMANN y CARCASS DIPPING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1942 Aug. 28, 1945. A. G. ACKERMANN CARCASS DIPPING APPARATUS f Filed Nov. e, 1942 Aug. 2s, 194s.

A/G. ACKERMANN CARCASS DIPPING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-sheet 5 Filed Nov. 6, 1942 Patented Aug. 28, 1945 cAacAss- DIPPING APPARATUS Adolf G. Ackermann, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to The Allbright-Nell Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 6, 1942, Serial No. 464,759

6 claims. (o1. 1'7-1) vIn general the present invention relates to apparatus for dipping machine dehaired hog carcasses in a tank of hot congealable resinous mate-r rial in order to 'form seal-like coatings which, upon stripping or peeling from the carcasses after partial hardening or congelation of the material, effect removal of the hair and roots remaining on the carcasses after the machine dehairing process as well as removal of glandular secretions and other undesirable matter from the skin portions of the carcasses. More particularly the invention relates to that type of carcass dipping apparatus which operates in conjunction with an overhead rail for use with gambrel supporting trclleys'in conveying the carcasses from the dehairing machine or the usual gambrel applying table at the discharge end of the dehairing machine to either a polishing machine or the carcass cutting and inspection line, and comprises-(1) a rail section which overlies the tank, forms a part of the Overhead rail, and is shiftable vertically between an up position wherein it ts within a cutout in the rail and is adapted to receive thecarcass supporting trolleys as they travel one at a time along the rail, and a down position wherein any carcass suspended therefrom isycaused to be immersed inthe tank for coating purposes, and

(2) mechanism for shifting the rail section downwards into its down position after a carcass supporting trolley travels thereonand then raising the section into its up position in order to permit the dipped carcass to travel further along the rail and render the rail section operative to receive the next following carcass on the overhead rail.

One object of the invention is to provide a carcass dipping apparatus of this type which is an improvement upon, and has certain advantages over, previously designed apparatus of like character..

Another object of the invention is to provide a carcass dipping apparatus of the type under consideration in which the vertically movable rail section forming a part of the trolley supporting overhead rail is carried by a carriageand the mechanism for shifting the rail section back and forth between its up and down positions includes i the type under consideration, of novel electrical 4 means for controlling the motor of the .carriage lowering and raising mechanism so that it starts each time a carcass supporting trolley moves onto f tion.

the .movable rail section and then stops as soon as the-carriage reaches its up position.`

A further object of the invention is to provide a carcass rclipping apparatus which is generally of new and improved construction, eifectively and efficiently fullls its intended purpose, and is characterized by the fact thatit embodies a compact arrangement of parts iand may be manufactured and installed at a comparatively 10WI cost. Y

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present carcass dipping apparatus will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed descrip- .The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are ymore particularly denedjbyuclaims at the conclusion hereof.

In the ydrawings, which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and n which like vnumerals of reference denote corre,- sponding parts throughout the Vseveral views:

Figure 1 is a front view `of a `carcass dipping .apparatus embodying the invention. y l

Figure 2 is a side'view of the apparatus, illustrating in detail the construction` and arrangement ofthe mechanismfor shifting the rail section carrying carriage back and forth between its :down andup positions; n

.Figure 3 is aperspectiveof the carriage;

Figure 4 Vis an enlarged plan View of the vertically movable carriage; l Y

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section on the .line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front view of the overhead rail and the trolley pushing conveyor; and c Figure 7 is a diagram of the electrical control circuit for the motor ofthe mechanism for snifting the rail section carrying carriage back and.

forth between its down and up' positions. y

The apparatus which *is illustratedl in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or eml bodiment of the invention. `It is Vdesigned forA use in ya combined slaughtering and packing house having an overhead rail 8 forconveying hog carcasses .from a dehairing machine (not shown) to eithery the usual cutting and inspection line or a polishing machine in front -of the line, and serves, during .operation thereof, to dipthe carcasses, one at a time, into a tank 9 containing hot congealable resinousy material in orderl to apply substantially complete seal-like coatings which, whenstripped or pealed from the carcasses after congelation of the material, remove the hair and roots remaining on the carcasses after the machine dehairing operation and also effect removal of various glandular secretions and other undesirable matter from the skin portions of the carcasses. The overhead rail 8 is adapted to support the hog carcasses in an inverted depending position by wayof trolleys Ill and is associated with aconveyor ,HI which,lup

on drive thereof causes the carcass supporting As shown in w Figure l, the overhead rail is supported in a detrolleys to travel along the rail,

pending manner from an overhead'beain-ILZ by way of straps I3. It extends horizontally and is arranged so that the carcassesdring travel therealong pass over the tank 9. The tank` is preferably embedded in the iloor yof the combined slaughtering and packing house whereinth'im# proved apparatus is employed. It is heated in1 any Isuitable manner, such, for exampla'as by way o-f steam coilsi-n order thatthe-'resinous vniaterial therein is maintained YAiria molten or liquid condition. Thefoverhead'ra'il' 8-has acutout I4 directly over-the tank-and- -cor'nprises a fixed 1 preceding rail secticnqliandfa-iixed following rail section l6. The-preceding rail-section leads from the aforementioned Idehairing' machine for the hog carcasses lor the gambrelapplying'table at the discharge end ofthe dehairing machine to the cutout I4 over the tank 9 and the followingl rail section IE-leads-irom'the cutout to the aforementioned polishing machine or 'cuttingand inspection line.` Avertically'movable rail section- IT constituting one-of thev elen'ients` of the dipping apparatus, is associated with, and forms` a part of', the overheadl rail&- This railsection II is shiftable baci; and foi-tn between an up position wherein it fits withnthe. cutout I4 and serves to bridge or connect the preceding and following rail sectionsY l5 and 6, and a down positionw-herein it isdisposed adjacent` the top `of the tank 9. When acarcass'- carrying `trolley travels onto the rail section AI11-I;he section is shifted downwards toits down position and then raised to its up position. Dining the down stroke;

of the rail section I 'Il the carcass. l which issuspendecl from the trolley-onvv the 'saidI rail section. I IT entersv the tank/9, asshown by'dottedlines fthe overhead rail 8.

porting trolleys along the overhead rail 8 is of the chain variety and overlies and extends in parallel relation with the rail. It is mounted between a pair of laterally spaced channel bars 22 beneath the beam I2 and has on the under side thereof a series of pairs of pusher lingers 23 and 24. The pairs of fingers are spaced equidistantly apart, as shown in Figure 6.k The lingers 23 are located ai short distance ahead of thengers 24,

and are adapted to engage the frames of the utrolleys and push or feed the trolleys along the preceding rail section I5. The fingers 24 serve Vasfollow-i141 lingers and are adapted to engage the trolley frames. and feed or propel the trolleya while. thev latter are on the following rail section l5. It is contemplated that when the apparatus is in operation the conveyor Il be driven continuously at a comparatively low speed` After a carcass is applied to a gambrel on a trolley the trolley is placed on the preceding rail section I4 ahead of one of' the pusher fingers 23. As soon as thenger strikes the frame of the trolley the trolley is moved along the rail section t5 and thenonto the vertically movable rail section Il.

As soon `as the trolley moves onto such section the latterisl shifted downwards and upwards for carcass dipping purposes. During downward and upward shift of the rail section il. the pusher nger 23 that has pushed the trolley onto the rail section H moves onward and thepusher linger directly therebehind moves or 'travels into a position wherein it is' in readiness to engage the frame of the trolley on the rail section Il as soon- Y as the rail-section reaches its .up position. As "soon-as-the rail section is shifted into its up position the adjacent pusher finger Z# contacts the frame of the trolley on. the rail section l1 and causes the trolley to movefoii the rail section Il andz along the following rail section I6 of The conveyor` II is driven for carcass moving or propelling purposes by way cian electric motor 25, a gear type speed reducerZ and a sprocket 2l, The motor 25 is mounted Ion thev overhead beam I2 and has the farmature.4 shaft thereof connected to the drive shaft: of the speed reducer 26. The sprocket 2l meshes with. the chain constituting the conveyor in Figure 1, and is' coated with the heated con.-

gealable resinous material the tank. After shift of the rail section I-'l into its up'position ,the trolley having the coated carcasssuspended therefrom moves onto and? travels along the following rail section f6 of the overhead rail-and the. rail section I1 is in a position tor receive the next following carcass supporting trolley I 0L l'The `trolleys comprise groovedwheels' I8 and frames I9 and are moved along the rail 8 by way of the conveyor H. The wheels I8 of the trolleys ride on the upper surfaces ofthe rail sections I5, I6

v,ing trolleys along the overhead rail 8, is driven in and I1; The trolley frames I9 are vertically elongated and have inverted U-shaped upper ends which overlie the wheels and are connected thereto by way of stub axles 20. The vlower ends ofthe trolley frames underlie the rail sections during travel of the trolleys therealong and have gambrels 2| suspended therefrom by way of I' bolts or like attaching means. j The gambrels are adapted to be applied to the hooks 'of the carcasses after the latter have been subjected to the action of the dehairing machine and extend substantially horizontal-ly when the trolleys to which they .are applied move or travel-along the over headrail. Y

The conveyork vI I for 'moving the'oarcass supsynchronism or in timed relation with the combined'down and up movement of' the vertically movablefrail section il'. l

The dipping apparatus comprises in addition .to the rail section Il, a vertically slidable carriage'28 for` the rail section and mechanism for shifting the carriage down and' up for carcass dipping purposes. The carriage lis; mounted for vertical sliding movement on! a pair of laterally C.spaced upstanding rods 29' andcomprises a vertical'ly extending angle bar type frame 30 and a U-shaped bracket 3i. The frame 35 consists of a pair of vertically spaced horizontally extending angle bars 32 and a pair of laterally spaced ver Vticall'y' extending angle bars 33. vThe angle bars '33f`extend' between the central portions oi' the standingrods 29.

angle .bars 324 and have the ends thereof welded or otherwise xedlysecured to said central por.

tions of the angle bars 32. The ends ofthe horizontally lextending angle bars of the frame 30 have sleeves 34 xedly secured thereto and these sleeves surround and are adapted to slide vertically on the rods 29.' The lower ends of the rods.l are mounted in a xed'bracketstructure directly behind thetank and the upper ends of the rods fit within a pair of brackets 35 on the rearend of a horizontally extending platform 36. The4 latterj as shown in Figure 2, overlies the vertically Ymovable rail ysection |1 and is mounted on, and carried by, the overhead beam I2. The U-shaped bracket 3| of the carriage 28 extends or vprojectsforwardly from the central portion of the frame 38 'and is arranged so that the crosspiece thereof is at the front.Y The rear ends of the side pieces of the bracket t between the central portions of the vertically extending angle bars 33 of the frame 30 and are secured thereto by'wayof p1ates31. The rail section I1 is located in front ofthe crosspiece of the U-shaped bracket 3| and is fixedly secured thereto by way ofa pair of laterally spaced brackets 38. By reason of the fact that the rail section I1 is xedly connected to the bracket 3| down and upfsliding' movement of said carriage28 on the rods 29 results in corresponding movement of said rail section. The carriage 28 is conned by rods 29 torectilinear sliding movement and is counterbalanced by way of a counterweight 39. The latter-is Ymounted for verticalsliding movement between a pair of oppositely facing channell beams 40 and is operatively connected to the carriage b-yway of a cable 4|. The cable kis trainedv overv a pair of longitudinally aligned sheaves'42 on"y the rear end of the platform 36 and has one end thereof connected to the upper end of the counterweight 39. Theother end of the cable is connected to the carriage 28 by way of an apertured plate 43 at the inner end of the U-shapedbracket 3|. The beams 48 for guiding the counterweight 39 are located behind the up- When the carriage 28 slides upwards in connection with shift of the rail section I1 into its up position wherein it bridges the cutout I4 in the overhead rail 8, the counterweight 39 slides downwards. When the carriage 33 is shifted downwards in connection with a hog dipping operation the counterweight moves orv slides upward. The weight of the counterweight ispreferably equal to the combined weightof the carriage 28 and an average hog carcass.

The mechanism for shifting the carriage conthe speedreducer 45. It `meshes with, and serves to drivethe gearwheel4'1. Thelatter overlies the pinion 46` and is ixed to al horizontal shaft 52 which is journaledfin a pair of bearings 53 on the upperportion ofl the frame structure 50. The crank 48 is in the formof an ,arm which is mounted on, and extends radially with respect to, the gearfwheel 41. ,The connecting rody 49 is located inback of the gear wheel 41, as shown in 49 `and is journaledin a pairof axially aligned bearings 56 within the U-shaped bracket 3| of thecarriage. The bearings, as shown in Figure 3, extend between the side pieces of the U-shaped bracket 3| and are connected thereto by Way ofk channel bars 51. Thegear wheel 41 rotates in a vertical plane and operates, Vwhen driven, to revolve the 'crank l48 and thus effect vertical shift of the carriage 28. When the crank 48 extends upwards in a verticalposition, as shown in Figure 1, the connecting rod 49 is in a raised position and maintains the carriage 28 and the rail section |.1` in their up position. When the gear wheel 41 is rotated throughout a 360 arc the car- Y riage and vertically movable rail section move.

Adownwards during rotation of the gear wheel throughout the rst 180 and then move upwards crank is preferably of such-length that when it is sists of an electric motor 44, a gear type speed thereof coupled or otherwise connected to the drive shaft of the speed reducer. The speed reducer, asshown in Figure 1, is also mounted on the frame structure 59. It is of conventional or standard vdesign and has associated therewith av solenoid type brake 5|. The brake is in circuit with the electric motor and is so arranged that it operates-immediately tolstop the gearing and armature shaft when the supply of current to the motor 44 is cut oil. The pinion 46 is located be, hindthe. vframe structure 50 and is keyed or.

in its down position the carriage is lowered to a point where the carcass depending from the trolley on the rail section I1 is substantially fully irnmersed in the material in the tank 9. It is contemplated that the crank will be rotated or turned one complete revolution each time a carcass carrying trolley is moved by the chain type conveyor II on to the rail section I1. It is also contemplated Vthat the speed of turn vor rotation of the crank will -be such that the carriage 28 and the rail section I1 will be returned to their up position directly before the next following pusher finger 24l on vthe conveyor reaches the cutout I4 in the overhead rail 8. Ashereinafter described, the motor 44 is controlled automatically so that as soon as a carcass supporting trolley moves onto the rail section I1 the crank 48 is rotated throughout anarc of 360 in order to cause dipping of the carcass into the material in the tank l and then return of the carcass to a position wherein it isv in readiness to be fed along the following rail section I6 by the next following pusher forythe motor 44 includes ailimit switch 58, av

normally open limit-switch59 and a normally closed limit switch S8. The limit switch 58is mounted on a bracket 5| which depends from the vrear end of the platform 36 and overlies the ver-4 otherwise. xedly secured to the driven shaft of theV limit switch 58 embodies on. the underrside thereof a vertically movable control elementi! and is actuated.' by way of a vertically. movable* trigger 63, a lever 54 and a push. rod' 65.: `.Theftrig'ger y63' is mounted inthe central portion` of I the railsection l1 for vertical sliding movement.

and is adapted to be depressed by the carcasssupporting trolley which. travels onto said. rail section and to move upwards as soon as the trolley visfed from the rail section I1 onto the following Vrail section I8 of thev overhead rail 8. The lever 64' underlies and extends transversely of. the rail section l1 and is supported for` central fulcrurn-kv ing thereof by way of a depending bracket 6E on the crosspiece of the tJ-shaped` bracket 3l 'off thecarriage 28. The front end ofthe lever `lillois in engagement with the lower end of the trigger 63 with the result that vwhen the trigger is depressed the lever' 64 is rocked in a counterclock wise direction as viewed inFgure 5. The push4 rod 65 extends vertically and is supported for vertical sliding movement by Way of a pair of vertically aligned spaced bearings.` The lower bearing is connected to, and forms a part of,I the bracket 8S and the upper bearing is associated with. a bracket B1 on the central upper portion.

of thel crosspiece ofv the U-shaped bracket 3l.`

The push rod S is in vertical alignment with thecontrol element 62 of the limit switch 58 and has the lower end thereofipivotally connected to the rear end-of the lever 64. The upper end of the.

push rod 65 is arranged so that it is disposed adjacent the control element 62 of the limit' switch 58 when the carriage 28 is in its up position. A'.

of the trolley rides over it. Downward. shift oi the trigger causes the lever 64 to rock. and` results in the push rod 65 sliding upwards and in' turn shifting upwards the control element 62 of the A switch 58. rWhen the trolley is propelled from the rail section I1' onto the following rail section I6 after a carcass dipping operation the trigger 63 is shifted upwards in response to the action of the compression spring 6'8' and' the push rod 65 slides downward and frees the controlel'ement 62 so that it moves downwards. Said control ele- A ment 62' is also freed for downward movementl when the vcarriagezs` moves downwards from" up position and is shifted upwards when the car` riage is returned to its up position. A description of the `function and mode of operation of` the limit switch 58 appears hereafter. The limit lswitcliies 59A and 6U co'act with the limit switch 58 `of theshait 52. The cam equipped arm during` rotation of the crank 48;' operates successively and momentarily to* close the limit switch 59 and open thelimit' switch 88. The arrangement of the two i.

last mentioned limit switches and the'arm E9 is suchv that the limit switch. 59 is momentarilyclosed after theV crank 48 has rotated throughout;

an arc of approximately' 180 and the limit switch 6U is opened toward the end of a complete rev/'01m` tion. ori` the partof the crank.` p y f contacts 1lb.

` Wire H5` to the-`other of the' contacts 10d.

tically movable carriage 28.. 'Asshown in Figure :5; The electrical control system for the motor 44 is shown diagrammatically iii-.Figure T and. in addition ttoith'e three'limit switches 58', 59 and Gli-includes threeccntrol relays 10; 1| and 12 and a motorstarteror contacter 13. A. supply of rsupplyoi current to the motor 44 through intermediate wires 11. 18 and 19, respectively. The contacts 13d. operate lto form a holding circuit for a coil 880i the contacter after it has once been energized through actuation of the limit switch 58. The relay 1n includesriormal-ly open contacts 10e. and-:10b and normally closed contacts 18 and 10d. Theenfergizing coil for this relay is indicated at 8l. The relay 1t has normally open contacts 14a. and 1|b and normally closed contacts l'llrcvand Hd.v The` operating coil for the latter relay is indicated at 82. .The relay 12 has normally open contacts 12a and 12b and nonl mall-y closed contacts 12@ and 12d. The operating coil ofthis relay is indicated at 83.

lCurrent for operating the relays is taken` from the supply lin'es14 and 15 through wires 84 and 85, thewire 84 extending to one ofthe contacts 12i and lbeing connected also to a terminal B6 on the limit` switch 58 -b-y the wire 84. The Wire 85v extends to one of the contacts 1lic and through a connecting wire 81 supplies current continuously toA one end. of the relay coil 81. The other end of the'coil 8|- is connected by av Wire 88 to one ofthe contacts 1I).a which in turn` is connected by a wire89 to a second terminal 98 on the limit switchi58. The terminal 86 is connected by a wire 9i. to afthirdterminal 92 on the switch 58.

A'iourth terminal S3 is connected by a wire 94 to one of the contacts 1l@ which in turn is conwire 95. A wire 96 connects the other contact Ha withone of the contacts 12.l A wire 91 con nects lone of the contacts 1|b with one of the contacts 10b. The other contact 10b`is connected by awire 98 to one of the contacts 10d and said one contact 18d is in turn connected by a wire 99 to the control currentsupply wire 84. The other contact llla is connectedby a Wire H10 to one of the. contacts 12d,r they other of which is connected to the end of the wi-re- 84.

The normally opened limi-t switch 59 has a terminal 10| which is connected to the wire 84 by. a wire.` 102, and has a second terminal m3v which is,` connected by a wire 1.04 to one of the This one contact 1|b is also connected by a Wire to one end of the relay coil 82 and by a wire mii-to one terminal H11 `of a reset device EU8. A wirev m9 connects' the other of. the contacts 1lc with one of. the contacts 12C. A` wire' H0 connectsA the other end of the coil 82 to one of the contacts 1 ld, which is in turn connected by a Wire IH to one of the contacts 12e'. This said one contactv 12a-is connected: by awire H2 to one endet the relayv coil 83 and by a wire H3 to the control current supplywire 85. of. the coil 83' is connected by'a wire H4 to one ot-thje contacts 11,211, this being the same oney of the contacts .12b to which the wire 9G connects. The other of. the contacts 12b is connected by a The other" of the contacts 1.2c is connected by a wire` lr6v to one of the contacts 13d. this one contact being yinv turn connected. by' a wire .M1 to a sec-- ond terminal H8 ofthe reset deviceflB and by a-wire lalf9, aznormall'y closed switch; 20 and ai The other endv shaft 52.

wire |2| to kone end of the contactu1"colllll.'y The other end of the contactor coil is connected through a wire |22, a normally closedswitch |23 and a wire |24 to one of the contacts`13a, which one contact in turn isconnected by` wire' |25 to the line 15. The switches |20 andf |23 remain closed even when the contactor 13 is closed. A wire |26 connects one ofthe contacts 13b to the line 14 and a wire |21 connects one ofthe contacts 13c to the line 16. The otherof the contacts 13d is connected by a wire |28Qto' one terminal |29 vof the normally closed limit switch 6.8, the other terminal |38 of this particular switch being connected by a wire |3| tothe terminal |9| of the switch 59. A switch member |32 normally closes the limit switch 68 anda switch member |33 is adapted to close thelimit switch 59. These two switch members |32 and |33 'are controlled by the cam equipped arm 69 .on the The limit switch v58 has a normally open switch member |34 and a normally 4open switch member |35. .Such switch members are controlled by the vertically movable control element 62 of the switch 58.

The operation of the control circuit for the motor 44 is as follows: .The supply of current to thelines 14, 15-and 16 causes closing of the relay 18, the coil 8| thereof being energized by reason of the fact that one end thereof is connected to the wire 84 through wire 84 ,`s`witch member |35, and wires` 89 and "88,"and the other end is connected to the supply wire 85 through wire 81. When the relay 18 is closed, a'holding circuit for the coil 8| extends through wire |80 and contacts 'l2d to wire 84, this holding` circuit being effective to maintain said'coil 8| energized even though the limit' switch58jm'ay be actuated momentarily and the terminals 85 and 98 thereby disconnected. As soon as a carcass supporting trolley is propelled onto the rail section |1 'the wheel thereof engages and depresses the trigger 63. Depression of the trigger, as hereinbefore described, results in upward shift ofthe push rod 65 and the control element 62 of the limit'switch 58. This operation 4causes starting of vthe motor M through actuation of the limit switch 58. Upward shift of the control element '62 of such switch causes the switch members |34 `and |35 to connect the terminals 92 and 93 and to disconnect the terminals and 9|). 'Connection 4olf the terminals 92 and 93'closes a circuit to' the coil l8|] oi the contactor 13 through wires 94an`d 95; contacts 1|c, wire |99, contactf`12c, wires H6 and 9, contact |28 and wire |21, the vother end 'ofl the coil 80 being permanently connected tothe supply wire 85 through wire |22; contactsv |23 and wires |24 and |25. The contactor'13 is thus operated to close the contacts 139,13", 13P'and 13d,

and thereby start the motor-44.*' Closing ofthe contact 13d completes a holding'circuit for" the' coil 89 through wire |28, normally vclosed limit switch 60 andl wires |3| and |92. holding circuit is necessary since thelimitswitch 58v 'is released and reopens contacts 92, 93 .as soon as the carriage 28 startsits downward'movement. The motor 44 continues to run and, through the medium of the speed reducer 45, thepinion 46 and the gear wheel 1|1,` drives the crank kt8 ses closure cfiiiiiii-v switch sa rWiiieireet the operation 4of relay i12 instead of the contacter 13. This is necessary so that'upon the completion of the ydipping operation and when the carriage 28 reaches itsup position and again'actuates the limit switch '58,' the' dipping operationv will `not repeat until :j i'an'other carriage has been 'moved onto the hoist.

Momentary closing Jfthev limit switch 59 completes a circuit to the y'relay coil `82 from the supply 'wire at tnrougnwires luz,` maand |05, the

vo tl' e'rfend ofthe vcoil` v 82 being connected tothe i current supply wire 8 4Il through wires ||0,

and,|`|3.'f Operation vvof therelay 1| opens the contacts 1 |c th rou gh which one holding circuit for theI contacter coil 88 had been completed after flowering 'of the carriage. When ,the relay 1| is 'closed'the coil 830i relay 12 yis placed in readiness' forenergization whenthe limit switch 58 :is again` actuated, Thus one end of the coil 83 is' connected `through wires 2 and 3 to one supplyline 85 and the other end of the coil 83 is connected through wires I4 and 96, contacts 1|a' and wire 9A to1 terminal 93 of the limit switch 58. v"Atthe'same tirnegthe control circuit' for the vcoil scthat when vthe limit Aswitch 58 is again actuated, l he ccilf lofjth'e contacter 13 will not be energeen if When Itli'efcarriuge"28 approaches its up position' the ca'm equipped arm 69 opens the limit "switch 68 and thereby breaks the holding circuit fo'r' the coil lllli'the contactor 13, which holding 'circuit compriseswires" |92 and |3I, switch 69,

wire |28, contacts 13d, w i re`|| 9, switch |20 and wire |2 The 'conta'ctor 13 thus drops yout and opens the motor controlcontacts 13a, 13b and 13c yas wellas the holding circuit contact 13d whereupon the motor stops even though .the limit 'switch '58 is' vagain actuated. Actuation of the limit switch 584 at this time Veilects the closing of relay 12 :and the opening offrelay 10; Relay y'l2 closes because the coil 83 thereof is energized,

one iside being connected to the supply wire through wires lf'and ||3 and the 'other side thereof :being connected through wires z| I4 and 96,3contacts1lfand wire 94to the terminal 93 of limitswit'ch' 58. The relay 18 is opened because thecircuit throughterminals |36,l of limit of relay switch 58 i'sfbrokenfand the holding circuit for the relay coil 8 lwhich extendedthroug'h wire |99 and contacts 1 2 was broken with the energization 12 since then the contacts 12 1 were opened; i

' soon ae-the 'carriage 28 reaches'its up position the r i 'extfollowing pusher nger 21|v on the `conveyor pushes the trolleywith the dipped carcass suspended therefrom "01T `of`the trigger 63 :and allows lthe limitswitch 58 to return to its normal'positicn. Relay12, then drops out bel causerelay 1 8 recloses, thereby opening the contacts 1udir1'tne holding circuit for the coil as cf ;relay'12. The electrical control circuit is then in through one complete revolution'durinfg which a Y dipping operation takes place.v Whenthe'crank 48 has turned through approximately 1 80 degrees the cam equipped arm 69 onthe shaftv 52 engages and closes the A limit switch '5 9 momentarily, thus energizing relay'll andj rearranging the connections of the circuit4 so that`the next readiness to repeat the cycle heretofore. described as soon asfthenext succeeding carcass supporting trolley is propelled onto' the rail section l1.

The reset device |08` is provided to permit restarting of the motor 44 in the yevent the'power supply tc'iinesrrs, 1 5 and 1s sncuniv fail whiie the ,actuation fof the r e set devicecauses a switch member |88 thereof (which is connected to the .i .6 .sugolv wire lill hv wire; 111.8% te ,engage ternels .tail eild'fl lf3.- Sinc'e the terminal .l Hi is hecvvire 1.19., .closing of. the, reset @euses eriergirstion .of the `oohterminal .|01 .causes ehersizetion 1| irl: .advance yof itsusliol time but this does not .shu'uefe .thesulosedueht portion oithe cycle.

" i-r'raddition to." the aioreiuehtioned parts.. the

looking Lthe `.careless supporting trol- |1 against displacement relatively to such rail section during the down and up strokes of the carriage 2,8, l This device comprises a. pair oi j horihohtelly extending parallel `rods |36- which iure disposed beneath they Uesheoed bracket 3l of thecarriage ,28 and extend transversely of Athe vertically movable rail. seetloh Il` The iront ends: of the .rods extend through. end ale slidaplyjmounted in, holes |31 in theend portions of therail section l1l` as shown in Figure 3. Ifhefrearends of the rods extend through, and are slidahly mounted in, holes |38 in .a bracket I L39.- The A.latter is. secured toy and depends from.

lthe side v pieces ofthe carriage bracket 3| (see Figure 5). The rail section Hand the bracket |39 support thejtworods |35 do that theyI are axiallyorlongitudinally slidable.' When the rods are slid forwards the front ends thereof straddle the fra-me of the trolley. on the rail section. I1

and thus prevent .the trolley from travelling re1- atively to Ithe railsection l1.` -When the two rods are. shifted rear-wards the front ends are VIgnoved out of straldled relation with the frame of the trolleyon said rail sectionand thus perl mit the trolley to be pushed onto. the following rail seton|6.. As hereinafter described, the two 'rods are shifted forwards into straddled relation .with the frame of the trolley of the rail selition |1V assoon asisuch rail section starts to. movedownwards towards .its down position and remain in their forward .or s traddled position until the rail .section |.1.. is.returned to its up oroperative posii tion after, a hos dipping. operation.` As soon as the roilseotion il returned to its up position 7 fthe rods orel .dutorudtidollyy shifted redrwards .so

asitorelease the trolley .for iurther travel. along the'overhead-rail `t. hy. action. of the chain type ,conveyor 1.1,. '.Iherods L|36 are. urs-ed. forwards l .into their operative or trolley Stradali-ing position vby Way of a pair of compression springsid.

These sorihssare mounted respectively on the eeutrelzpor-tionsioi the rods. and have the. .rear

` ehds thereor sediment with. the` brochet. |39.

The iront endsJo-.r .the springs abut. against co1- .lars lilloh the rods, The .rear erldsoi the .rods Y are lcross connected by way-vof a horizontally extending .rod |42.. rod. serves to connect the rods yi 3.5 .for conjoint sliding .ilioveiherrt4 '.I'he two rods |36 are automatically l"'etrocted. against the force or.'l the .shrihss 14.0 when. the. carriage .2.a is

shifted. iu its up. position by .means of a. shaft 14de noir-of |44, an. arm |45. und a stop 1.46. Tlie'sheit 14.3 is ydisposed above and in .pdiellellreldtioh with the rodg |42 and.. extends "'through.. arid is. rotatably mounted. in, holes |41 intl-reside pieces inthe' carriage breeketS-L The drills' |44 are ired't, dhd-radiate fromthe ends of the shaft! 4.3 and have their outer er distal Eilsasemeht of: the switchtmeihher il ehdsalougitudihalslots meier the ends of the [roc r4.2...".ivlign thgsugfi .tra and die arms m4 are retired viewed in F i ,Iioounterlockwise direction as lggf@ 5, the lrods |36 are shifted Arear- ;Werds. -ihtotheir .retracted or inoperative position, The arm; .|45 is fixed to one end .of the f shat |43 .anlprojets forwardly at substantially a right .allele with respect to the arms l44- The Simp. |46 isinthe .form of a vertically extending hcltvhiohis. connected to, .and depends iront,

the bracket iii .ou the rear end. of the platform dit! It--ove'rhestheerih |45v arid is so oositerled .that vheh-thecarrisserii .is shiftedy upwards into iii-sup, Vposition after a .edrcds-s vdipping operation the arm .14d strikes .against it and causes the shaft M34 .and the arfinsjillfto rock in a oounterclock- '-.wise direction as Viewed in Figure 5, and thus retract the rods |36. When the carriage 28 moves downwards. after a carcass supporting trolley |0 travels. ontoffthe rail section |1 and depressesthe trigger 3.,.the arm |45, during the initial part of 1 downwardmovernent on the part .of the carriage, .mo-ves. out of. contact-with the stop |46 with the result that'the 'compression springs |40 shift the v i? odsli forwards into their operative position uiliereiri they straddle the frame of the trolley on the 'rail section l1. The two rods remain in such position during 'theedown stroke and the major portion of the up. troke ofthe carriage and hence look' the trolley against forward or4 aft displace- Illllll with respect tothe vertically movable rail s (gction.V At the end. of the up stroke V.of the earliage. 23 the arm |45 strikes against the rigid or stationary stop. |56, and operates, as hereinbe- ,f QIIe described and through the medium of the sito@ 1.43 .and the arms |44, .to retract the rods |..36. soon as the rodsare retracted the trolley on the rail section .I 'I sfree so that it may be moved .fromthe verticallymovobie rail. section onto the-following ,rail section I6 by the next fol- .lowing pusher finger .2.4. The rods ldthe springs Mpthe rod, |42. the shaft |43,.the arms |44. and 45 and the stop, |45- constitute or exemplify simple means' whereby the' carcass supporting trolley' on the rail section I1 is automatically locked agaiIiSt .displacement during the down and up. strokes .oi the arriagel in connection with a carcass dippingoperation. By providing means of the aiorexnentioned character there is no likeiihood .or .a .carcass being .disponga from the m11 section during. a. dipping. operation.

hssurhingthattpe circuit for the electric motor '54 .is operative. dud.v .the conveyor Il is being driven by thejelectric. motor 25 theoperation of the, apparatus. is asfollowm The pusher fingers 23 on the conveyor propel the carcass supporting trolleys in series form .along the preceding rail section i5 of/the overhead -rail 8. As soon as .the leadingtrol-ley is .pushed onto the vertically movahlerail section Il the wheel of the trolley depresses the trigger 63.'. As soon as the trigger is depressed'current. is .Supplied to the motor 44,

.as previouslye'vdesoribed, .rind the. rlflotory through themedium ofthe. speed reducer 45, the pinion 4.6 andthe.: gear Wheel 41, .swings the. crank 48 throughout an arc o f 36.0.. During down swing of the .crunk the .carriage .2.8 and the rail section |1 together-.with the ca rcass` that is suspended from-the trolley onthe rail vsection l1 move downwardstowardthe. dipping tank 9.' As the cari r-iage movesdownward thecarcass enters the. tank and receivesla coating of. the hot resinous material therei'n' Qn the upstroke of the crank 48 .the aroass'is Withdrawn fromthe tanl; and the carriagend verticallymovable rail section are raised into their up position. As'soon as the crank reaches the end of its l360" arc the motor 44 stops as hereinbefore described; As soonvas the rail section l1 reaches its up position in connection with stoppage of the electric motor 44 the next following pushernger 24 engages the trolley on said rail I1 and pushes it onto and along the following rail section I6. As soon as the trolleyleaves the rail section I1 the trigger 63 moves upwards and said rail section is in condition to receive the next following vcarcass supporting trolley and the same cycle of operations again takes place'. During the down and up strokes of the rail section Il the trolley for the carcass being dipped is locked againstY travel on .the rail section Il by way of the rods |36 as hereinbem fore described.

The herein described carcass dipping apparatus effectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose and iscapable` of dipping carcasses at a comparatively high rate of speed. It is essentially automatic and involves a novelA and compact arrangement of parts. Because offits design or construction the apparatus may be installed in any combined slaughtering and packing house having an overhead trolley Supporting rail for conveying or moving the carcasses rfrom the dehairing machine to the cutting and inspection line or the polishing machinein front of such line. f

The invention is not to be'understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing'from .the spirit'and scope'of the invention.

Having ythus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. The combination with ja tank Vcontaining coating material, of an overhead rail extending over the tank, adapted to vnavel-,rolleys with carcasses suspended therefrom travelin spaced apart order along it, and provided with a kcutout direct- 2. The combination with a tank containing coating material, of an overhead rail extending over the tank, adapted to have trolleys with carcasses suspended therefrom travel in spaced apart order along it, and provided with a cutout directly above the tank dividing it into a preceding and a following rail section, a power driven conveyor extending along the rail, provided with a series of pairs of spaced apart pusher fingers for' the trolleys, and adapted when driven to have the leading lingers of the pairs propel the trolleys constantly along the preceding rail section to the cutout, means for dipping the carcasses into the tank for coating purposes comprising a rail section shaped to fit within the cutout and mounted to slide vertically between an up position wherein it bridges the cutout and is adapted to receive a carcass supporting trolley from the preceding rail section and a down position wherein the carcass suspended from the trolley thereon is immersed in 'the material in the tank and then back again to its up position in order that the trolley thereon ly above the tank dividing it into a preceding and' a following rail section, a power driven conveyor extending along the rail, provided with a series of pairs of spaced apart pusher-fingers for the trolleys, and adapted when driven to have the leading fingers of the pairs propel the'trolleys constantly along the preceding rail section to the cutout, means for dipping the carcasses into the tank for coating purposes comprising a rail section shaped to t within the cutout and mounted to slide between an up position wherein it bridges the cutout and is adapted to receive a carcass supporting trolley from the preceding rail section and a down position wherein the carcass suspended from the'trolley thereon is immersed in the material in the tank and then'back again to its up position in order that the trolley thereon with the coated carcass is in position to be propelled onto the following rail section, and power driven mechanism independent of the drive means for the conveyor adapted to slide the movable rail section back and forth between its said up and down positions and designed and controlled automatically in such manner that each time a trolley is propelled onto the movable rail section by the leading nger of one pair while such movable rail section is in its up position, it slides the movable rail section into its down position for carcass dipping purposes and then returns said movable rail section to its up position in time for the trailing finger of said one pair to propel the trolley onto the following rail section.

` with the coated carcass is in position to be propelled onto the following rail section, and mechanism `including an electric motor, adapted to 'slide'the movable rail section back and forth between its said up and down positions and designed and controlled automatically so that each time' atrolley is propelled onto the movable rail section by the leading finger of one pair of ngers while such movable rail section'is in its up position, it slides themovable rail section into its down position for carcass dipping purposes, and

then returns the said movable rail section into -its up position in time for the trailing finger of said one pair to propel the trolley onto the following rail section.

casses one at a time into the tank for coating thetank, a carriage having the last mentioned rail section connected xedly to it and 'mounted slidably on the rod so that it is slidable lverticali ly back and forth between an up position wherein said last mentioned rail section bridges the cutout and is adapted to receive a carcass Supporting trolley from the preceding rail section, and a down position wherein the carcass suspended from the trolley on the rail section thereon is immersed in the material in the tank, mechanism for positively sliding the carriage back and forth between its said up and down positions, embodying a crank positioned wholly above the overhead rail and directly over the carriage and arranged to revolve in a vertical plane, a connecting rod vhaving one end thereof pivotally connected to the distal end of the crank and its other end pivotally connected to the carriage, and an electric motor start the motor each time a carcass supporting .adapted to have trolleys with carcasses suspended therefrom travel in series form along it and provided with a cutout directly above the tank dividing it into a preceding and a following Irail section, an apparatus for dipping the carcasses one at a time into the tank for coating purposes comprising a rail section shaped to t kwithin the cutout, an opstanding rod adjacent the tank, a

carriage having the last mentioned rail section connected iixedly to it and mounted slidably on Athe rod so that it is slidable vertically 'back and forth between an-up position wherein said last mentioned rail section bridges the cutout and is adapted to receive a carcass supporting trolley from the preceding rail section, and a down position wherein the carcass suspended from the trolley on the rail section thereon is immersed in 'the material in the tank, mechanism for sliding the carriage back and forth between its said up and down positions embodying an electric motor, a crank connected for positive drive by said motor and arranged to revolve in a vertical plane,

i and a connecting rod having one end thereof pivotally connected to the distil end of the crank and its other end pivotally connected to the car riageand an electric control system for the mo- .ing rail section and a following rail section, an i apparatus for dipping the carcassesone at a time into the tank for coating purposes comprisinga rail, section shaped to fit within the cutout and mounted to move fromv an up position wherein it bridges the cutout and is adapted to receive a 'carcass supporting trolley from the preceding rail section, and a down position wherein the carcass suspended from the trolley thereon is immersed in the material in the tank, and then backagain te its up position in Order that the trolley thereon with the coated carcass may be lmoved onto the :foliowing rail' section,v an electric motor, mechanism driven by the motor'formoving the movable rail section between its said up and down positions, and an 'electric control system for the motor operative automatically to start the motor each time a carcass supporting trolley is moved onto the movable :rail section from the preceding rail section and to stop 4the motor upon return of said movable rail section to its up'position after acarcass dipping operation a 6. In combination with a tank containing coating 'material and an overhead rail adapted to have trolleys with carcasses suspended therefrom travel' in series iormalong itanfd provided with a cutout over the tank dividing :it into a preceding rail section and a following rail section, an apparatus for dipping the carcasses one at a time into the tank forcoating purposes comprising'a rail section shaped to iit within the cutout and mounted to move from an up position wherein it bridges the` cutout andfisl adapted to receive ,a

carcass supporting trolley vfrom the precedingv rail section, and a down positionA wherein thecarcass suspended from the trolley thereon is immersed in the material in the tank, and thenlbackagain to its up position in order thatv the trolley thereon with the coated carcass may be moved onto' the following rail section, mechanism including Van electric motor for moving the movable rail `section between its said up and 'down positions, and an electric control system `for the motor. operative automatically to start the .motor each timeA a carcass supporting trolley isshifted onto the movable rail section from the preceding rail section and to stop the motor fupon return of the movable rail section toits opposition. after a carcass dipping operation, said system including .an element Inova-bly mounted on the movable rail section and arranged so that it is movedin one direction when a trolley is propelled onto said movable rail section preliminarypto a carcass dipping operation, and means for shifting thek element in the opposite direction when the trolley is propelled from the movable yrail sectiony onto the following track section aftena carcass `Vclipping' operation. l

Y ADOLF. G. .,ACKERMANN. e 

